Stuff I Didn't Have Room to Say

Find Your Ancestors: Write a Book

Author's Diary, Day 11: I spent almost four years, asking everybody I ran into to tell me stories about my grandmother, who died in 1992. I heard about how she liked to make peanut butter taffy when she was a girl and about how she delivered babies when she was a nurse in her small eastern Kentucky town.

The only beau I heard about was the one who turned out to be my grandfather, who rode into town on a Harley in 1937 and rode off with her. But now that my book is published, new facts are coming to light.

I received this email from Elliott Fraim, who owns a bookstore in Prestonsburg, Kentucky: "As of today we have sold 103 copies of the book. Several people have mentioned having photos etc. to show you when you are here. Just this AM a lady said that she had found a photo of your grandmother with a boyfriend, which she wanted to bring to you."

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Michelle, I am another of the distant cousins unknown to you. My grandmother also is Fannie, on of your great grandfather's sisters.

My mother, Bertha, is one of the older sisters of ncle Jack, Betty Jean's father, and the sole remaining member of that generation.

As you have already, noted, the family has spread far beyond Martin. I live in Florida, and my brother and sisters live in Florida, Tennessee, and California. There is also a cousin (through Fannie) in Costa Rica.

I first noted the book review in the Wall Street Journal. I still do not know why I read the full review, but the name Mynhier leapt off the page. Betty Jean is our family historian, so I e-mailed her asking if the name Hesta meant anything to her. An almost immediate response was that she was the wife of Fred, grandmother Fannie's brother.

I was fascinated with the book, enjoying it immensely, and it is now making its way through my siblings. I know they wil also find it fascinating.

You probably don't remember but I worked with you on several stories (I'm a PR guy) a few years ago on some different web sites (most no longer in existence). Ran across Michellepedia quite by accident and got interested when I realized it was you. Got more interested reading that your family, or at least part of it is from Kentucky because I am, too.